Rangers spotlight: It’s a ‘Miracle’: Hockey film player’s favorite

Rangers spotlight: It's a Miracle! Hockey film is player's favorite

Rangers non-roster invitee Pat Kivlehan calls the hockey film Miracle the best sports film of all-time. It's hard to argue (Video by Stefan Stevenson/Star-Telegram).

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Rangers non-roster invitee Pat Kivlehan calls the hockey film Miracle the best sports film of all-time. It's hard to argue (Video by Stefan Stevenson/Star-Telegram).

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SURPRISE, Ariz.

Finally, someone picked a hockey film.

It’s hard to argue with infielder Patrick Kivlehan, who was acquired by the Texas Rangers as the player named later in the Leonys Martin trade with the Mariners.

His favorite sports film is Miracle, the true story of the U.S. hockey team’s gold medal-winning run at the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid, N.Y.

“It’s just an inspirational movie and being true obviously helps, and it’s such an uplifting, motivating movie that it’s hard not to like,” said Kivlehan, who was born in Nyack, N.Y., a four-hour drive south of the historic site.

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The 2004 film stars Kurt Russell as coach Herb Brooks, tasked with bringing together the best amateur hockey players in the country. In one memorable scene, Brooks punishes the team after a sloppy exhibition game by making them skate the length of the ice over and over.

“It builds team camaraderie,” Kivlehan said. “You’ve got guys from all over the country who didn’t like each other before to become one and become a unit, so it’s kind of cool.”

His favorite baseball film is Major League II. Say what?

“I don’t really know. I just like the second one,” he said. “For the most part, it was the same movie, but I just like it.”

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